Stones, bullets fly in Hout Bay
2009-07-15 14:02
Cape Town - Police fired rubber bullets at a group of close to 500 stone-throwing people who were demonstrating on Wednesday morning against the auction of a mountain peak in Hout Bay.
The protest started at 08:00 when the group walked from Hangberg Village to Chapman's Peak Hotel.
"The group moved down the mountain to a nearby hotel and started throwing stones at the police," police spokesperson Inspector Tanya Lesh said. "The police retaliated by firing rubber bullets."
No injuries were reported and no arrests were made. Two privately owned cars were damaged during the incident.
The protesters had dispersed by Wednesday afternoon.
A recent report in the Sunday Times said the 321m-high Cape Town landmark in Hout Bay had come to the attention of a short list of celebrities and tycoons, who include Oprah Winfrey, Sol Kerzner, Donald Trump jnr as well as the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.
The new owners could, if they wished, be able to name the peak after themselves as The Sentinel is not a registered trademark.
Auctioneers have reportedly turned down two offers, including one for R15m, after buying the property for only R60 000 in 2005.
The protesters say the mountain belongs to the indigenous people of South Africa and cannot belong to a private owner.
The auction has been postponed.
- SAPA